A MAN-of-the-match performance by Mitch Nichols has recently appointed Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey intent on keeping the midfield enigma at the Roar beyond this season.

Ordinary in a struggling Roar outfit for the majority of this season, Nichols returned to his best last night to help Brisbane to a much-needed 1-0 win over second-placed Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Nichols was dangerous throughout the contest and set up the game's only goal for Brazilian livewire Henrique after standing up Adelaide defenders Iain Fyfe and Daniel Bowles.

Whether Brisbane's decision to replace the beleaguered Rado Vidosic with Mulvey is enough to keep Nichols at the Roar is unknown, with the soon-to-be off contract attacking weapon having been keen to leave the champions after falling out with the former coach.

However, Mulvey, interim Brisbane boss until the end of the season, is confident he can entice 23-year-old Nichols to sign a new Roar contract.

"Absolutely I want to keep him," Mulvey told The Courier-Mail last night.

"Mitch is committed to Brisbane Roar. It's never been in doubt as far as I'm concerned.

"Mitch is going to let his feet do the talking. It was out there for everyone to see that he's a wonderfully intelligent player and if he mixes that with hard work, as he did tonight, then he's a force to be reckoned with in this league big time."

Nichols told Fox Sports that Mulvey had installed "passion and enthusiasm" into a Roar side that seemed to lack motivation under the vanquished Vidosic.

"It's miserable when you're losing and it's not been a fun place to be around," Nichols said. "It's good to see a smile back on the (faces of the) boys."

The win was Mulvey's first since taking over from Vidosic, shunted to a technical director's position following Brisbane's poor start to the season, 10 days ago.

It was also the Roar's first away win of the season, lifting Mulvey's men to within two points of the top six.

"I'm full of self-belief with this group of players and I'm absolutely delighted for them," said Mulvey, whose first game in charge was last Friday's 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

"We've discussed about how we want to go forward and you can see from this performance that they are a very committed group of professionals.

"This is the start. We will not rest until we keep improving."

Brisbane will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they host Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday night.

"We're looking for consistency now. I'm looking for exactly the same commitment and performance for the game against the Phoenix," Mulvey said.

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